Top 10 most influential Japanese cartoons in China

A still of Dragon Ball [Photo/Weibo.com]

5. Dragon Ball: 9.3

Dragon Ball is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. Actually, it was initially inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West. The series follows the adventures of the protagonist Son Goku, from his childhood through adulthood, as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered. Along his journey, Goku makes several friends and battles a wide variety of villains, many of whom also seek the Dragon Balls.

Since its release, Dragon Ball has become one of the most successful manga series of all time. The manga's 42 volumes have sold over 156 million copies in Japan and more than 240 million copies worldwide, making it the third best-selling manga series in history. And it is widely regarded as one of the greatest manga series ever made.